Why do a lot of people hate the St. Louis Rams? (Rea: rent, layoffs) - Missouri (MO) - City-Data Forum

D3stiny · 09-12-2010, 07:21 AM

It seems like a lot of people in St. Louis seem to not care for our American football team, the St. Louis Rams. Yet, it seems like everyone seems to love the St. Louis Cardinals (baseball) and St. Louis Blues (hockey). So, why the hatred/disinterest in the St. Louis Rams? Is it because American football just isn't big in Missouri, or is it that our team sucks, or that our team has questionable moral issues.

1greatcity · 09-12-2010, 08:59 AM

I don't think it's really a "hatred" of the Rams; it's more of an indifference. The Cards have been part of St Louis history for 110 years, and have won 10 World Series games (average of 1 win every 11 years.) By comparison, we've only had the Rams for 15 years, and they've won just one Superbowl (average of 1 win in 15 years, so far.)
So to date, the Cards have a better track record than the Rams. The Cards have been a part of St Louis since before the World's Fair, so we've got a long-standing attachment there. And St Louis has always been a big baseball town-- above and beyond any other sport.
It means that over time, we'll undoubtedly grow more attached to the Rams. (And it would help if they came out on top again!)

D3stiny · 09-12-2010, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1greatcity

I don't think it's really a "hatred" of the Rams; it's more of an indifference. The Cards have been part of St Louis history for 110 years, and have won 10 World Series games (average of 1 win every 11 years.) By comparison, we've only had the Rams for 15 years, and they've won just one Superbowl (average of 1 win in 15 years, so far.)
So to date, the Cards have a better track record than the Rams. The Cards have been a part of St Louis since before the World's Fair, so we've got a long-standing attachment there. And St Louis has always been a big baseball town-- above and beyond any other sport.
It means that over time, we'll undoubtedly grow more attached to the Rams. (And it would help if they came out on top again!)

Hmm, good points.

DespicableMe · 09-12-2010, 11:24 AM

Not that everyone hates them, they just stay indifferent. This is also a team that has relocated twice before so can't blame the fans for being apprehensive before they make any real connection to the team.

BoomBoxing · 09-12-2010, 11:47 AM

Its not that anyone "hates" them, it's just hard to be excited about a team that's won like 4 games in three seasons. In the early 2000's the Rams were arguably the most popular team in the NFL. Football is such a cyclical sport that teams can go from gutter to glory rather quickly (or vice versa as we know here).

aragx6 · 09-13-2010, 07:24 AM

When the Rams were in their Warner/Faulk/Bruce days I had plenty of family paint blue letters on their chests on several occasions. When the Rams start winning again, the fans will come back.

The Cardinals have been a huge part of St. Louis for more than 100 years. They could have 20 losing seasons in a row, and while fans would probably burn down Bill DeWitt's house, they'd also still watch, and probably attend, the games.

The Blues have struggled since the lockout season, and attendance at games has certainly been down some -- but people are still actively and quietly following the team. St. Louis loves it's Blues hockey. I remember sitting in my basement eating Jack-In-The-Box tacos and watching Blues games on KPLR 11 with my as a kid in the 90s and I am sure many others have similar memories!

The Rams don't have the benefit of that kind of fan loyalty -- nor do I necessarily think they deserve it. Build a team, make it win, and we'll buy tickets. Simple as that.

andyc0803 · 09-13-2010, 07:45 AM

I'll echo what the others have said, it is just a lot of indifference when it comes to the Rams. I know that I don't really care about them. Obviously putting a good product out on the field would generate more interest but the Rams are really lacking in other areas too. First of all, the dome is an AWFUL place to watch a football game. It's just a crappy stadium and I hate going there. The atmosphere is terrible and they do a bad job of trying to get the fans involved. You don't see a lot of Rams players out in the community either and there isn't anyone on the team who is genuinely exciting. And the local coverage of the team is abysmal. The radio broadcasts are cringe worthy and the coverage on Fox 2 is pretty low rent (although channel 2 is out of the Ram's control.) Basically what I'm saying is that everything about the Rams just seems third class at best. The only people I know who show genuine interest in the Rams year after year are my grandparents.

As for the Blues, I think aragx6 is wrong when he says St. Louis loves their Blues hockey. Really, most of the people in and around the city couldn't care less about the Blues. However, there is a super loyal and hardcore fanbase that will never abandon that team and those are the people that have been supporting that team for 25 years. Plus they really appeal to the hoosiers.

aragx6 · 09-13-2010, 07:49 AM

You and I know different people then andy. Blues history is interwoven in the fabric of just about all old St. Louis families. I don't think the team has done a great job of bringing new fans into the fray, but to say that most people couldn't care less about them is simply crazy.

Not sure what any of that has to do with hoosiers though.

BoomBoxing · 09-13-2010, 08:50 AM

To say that people here don't care about the Blues is an extremely off base comment. The Blues, despite not even making the playoffs ranked 7th in NHL attendance in 2009-2010.

2010-2011 NHL Attendance - National Hockey League - ESPN

St. Louis is a huge hockey city and Blues fans are much more passionate about their team then most Cardinals fans. I also resent the comment about Blues appealing most to "hoosiers" when hockey is probably the most expensive sport to be a fan of. Yeah I guess some hockey fans are "hoosiers" but I guarantee there are far less than baseball, and football for that matter. Besides how many hoosiers could be fans of a sport where they can't pronounce half the players' names and it hails from that Socialist regime up north known as Canada?

moorlander · 09-13-2010, 09:19 AM

I've attended 20-25 Blues games since the strike. The Blues have a VERY loyal following, the games are very entertaining, and I like the communication between ownership and the fans.

The Rams are loved here too, just not when they are the armpit of the league. They are improving and the love will return. If not this season then the next.

Did you know that the Rams have more season ticket holders than the Cardinals and Blues combined???